Vaginal speculum

ABSTRACT

A vaginal speculum of the type wherein a pair of dilator blades are movable apart and pivoted for dilation of a body cavity. One blade conventionally projects beyond the other. In the present invention the blades are adjustable lengthwise relative to each other so that this projection of the blades may be selectively reversed to permit use of the instrument in reverse position.

United States Patent 1151 Golden July 24, 1973 VAGINAL SPECULUM 662,830 11/1300 Sklzijr 128/17 3,568,665 3 l 71 Lin gren.. [76] Inventor: 2 9" -gn f g Park PL, 3,575,163 4/1971 Gasper 128/17 1agara a s,

[22] Filed: Mar. 11, 1971 Primary Examiner-Lucie H. Laudenslager pp No 123 169 Artomey-Christel & Bean 57 ABSTRACT [52] [1.8. CI. 128/17 1 51 1111. c1 A61b 1/32 A vagma' Speculum W harm 3 P dllator [58] Field of Search 128/17, 18, 19 blades "Mable apart and Rivmed for Filation of a body cavity. One blade conventlonally pro ects beyond [56] References Cited the other. In the present invention the blades are adjustable lengthwise relative to each other so that this UNITED STTES PATENTS projection of the blades may be selectively reversed to 1,323,222 gtlritrtilson 128/17 permit use of the instrument in reverse position m1 596,399 12/1897 Fox 128/17 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 III lllllllllllllllll INVENTOQ BOP/5 A. GOLDEN A TTOQ/VEY3 VAGINAL SPECULUM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to vaginal specula and particularly to a speculum which facilitates the examination and diagnosis of body cavities under a variety of conditrons.

Conventional specula of the type here under consideration generally comprise a fixed blade having a handle extension at right angles thereto, and a movable blade which is connected to the fixed blade structure in such a way that it may be moved bodily away from the fixed blade and may also be pivoted with respect thereto.

In conventional specula the fixed blade comprises the lower blade and extends beyond the upper movable blade so that when the device is in use the cervix is conveniently exposed to the physician.

The use of a conventional instrument of this type when the patient is on a special gynecological examination table is generally convenient since the handle of the device extends downwardly from the lower blade. However, when a patient is being examined in bed, the conventional speculum handle cannot extend downwardly freely because of the bed surface and it is therefore usual for the patient to be propped up on a bed pan or the like to allow free space for the downwardly projecting handle of the speculum. It is not possible to merely reverse the speculum because of the necessity for the lower blade to project beyond the upper blade for clear examination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a vaginal speculum which may be conveniently reversed so that when the patient is on an examination table or apparatus the speculum may be used in the usual manner with the handle projecting downwardly, but when the patient is in bed, the projection of the blades may be reversed so that the conventional upper blade becomes the lower blade, and vice versa, and therefore the handle of the device will project upwardly toward the abdomen of the patient.

This is accomplished by providing a third relative movement as between the fixed lower bladeand the movable upper blade. The two conventional movements are one whereby the upper blade moves away from the lower blade in general parallelism therewith, and a second wherein the upper blade pivots away from the lower blade about an axis in the general area of the juncture between the fixed blade and the handle which extends therefrom at approximately right angles.

The third movement provided in devices constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a lengthwise adjustment between the blades so that the movable blade is projected toward the free ends of the blades to extend beyond the lower blade and thus is positioned to serve as the lower blade of the speculum. In this adjusted position of the blades the device will be used in reverse position with the handle thereof extending upwardly instead of downwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the speculum of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken from the righthand end of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a main body member which includes a handle portion 11 and a fixed blade member 12 which extends generally at right angles to the handle portion and comprises the lower blade of the instrument in the normal method of use, that is, with the handle projecting downwardly 'with respect to the area under examination. A support member for the opposing blade is designated 13 and is of generally channel-shaped cross section to slide lengthwise upon the handle portion 11 of body member 10. Support member 13 terminates at its right-hand end, as viewed in FIG. 1, in a bearing formation 14 which is provided with a slot 15 which terminates at its opposite ends in recesses 16 and 17. Lengthwise adjustment of support 13 on handle 11 is by means of a slot 20 in support member 13, a screw 21 which extends through handle portion l1 and slot 20, and thumb nut 22. A manipulating portion 23 at the outer end of support member 13 facilitates lengthwise adjustment of support member 13 on handle lll in either direction when thumb nut 22 is loosened.

A movable blade is designated 25 and it will be noted that in the conventional mode of use of the instrument movable blade 25 comprises the upper blade of the instrument and stops somewhat short of the outer end of lower blade 12. Movable blade 25 has an extension 26 which terminates in a manipulating portion 27 for use in pivotal adjustment of movable blade 25. Extension 26 has fixed thereto a screw 28 which projects through slot 15 and is provided with a thumb nut 29 for clamping the extension 26 against the bearing formation 14 of support member 13 to fix the movable blade 25 in any desired position of pivotal adjustment about the axis of screw 28 and also to fix blade 25 in the lengthwise position illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein screw 28 is disposed in recess 16 of slot 15 or, alternatively, in recess 17 at the lower end of slot 15.

In the illustrated position the device is used in the normal manner of conventional vaginal specula but when it is desired to employ the device with the handle portion ill projecting upward from the area being examined, screw 28 is moved along slot 15 and into recess 17. The pressure which is normally exerted urging the blades toward each other when the device is in use will tend to move screw 28 into one or the other of the recesses l6 and 17 and this retention of the screw 28 in one of the recesses is fixed when thumb nut 29 is tight ened to fix the extension 26 of movable blade 25 with respect to the bearing formation 14 of support member 13.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated herein to illustrate the principles of the invention but it is to be understood that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a vaginal speculum, a pair of blade members each having proximal and distal ends and adapted to be moved away from each other to distend a body cavity, one of said blades having a handle portion fixed to its proximal end and projecting generally at right angles therefrom, the other of said blades being movably mounted with respect to said one blade and said handle portion, said one blade normally projecting beyond said other blade at their distal ends, a support member carried by said handle portion and adjustable lengthwise thereof, said support member and said other blade having cooperating means connecting said other blade with said support member for relative pivotal movement and for movement in a direction lengthwise of said blade to cause said other blade to project beyond said one blade at their distal ends, said connecting means including means normally retaining said other blade in either of its limit positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to said one blade.

2. A vaginal speculum according to claim 1 wherein said cooperating means comprises bearing formation on said support member and said other blade, one of said formations having a slot therein extending generally in the direction of said blades and the other formation having means engaging said slot, and means for locking said means relative to said slot to retain said other blade in adjusted relative lengthwise position.

3. A vaginal speculum according to claim 2 wherein said support member bearing formation having a slot and said other blade bearing formation carries a screw extending through said slot, and a nut member engaging said screw for locking said other blade with respect to said support member.

4. A vaginal speculum according to claim 2 wherein said slot has opposite ends and is provided with recesses at such opposite ends for retaining said slot engaging means at either end of said slot.

5. A vaginal speculum according to claim 3 wherein said slot has opposite ends and has recesses at such opposite ends for receiving said screw to retain said other blade in either of its end positions of lengthwise adjustment. 

1. In a vaginal speculum, a pair of blade members each having proximal and distal ends and adapted to be moved away from each other to distend a body cavity, one of said blades having a handle portion fixed to its proximal end and projecting generally at right angles therefrom, the other of said blades being movably mounted with respect to said one blade and said handle portion, said one blade normally projecting beyond said other blade at their distal ends, a support member carried by said handle portion and adjustable lengthwise thereof, said support member and said other blade having cooperating means connecting said other blade with said support member for relative pivotal movement and for movement in a direction lengthwise of said blade to cause said other blade to project beyond said one blade at their distal ends, said connecting means including means normally retaining said other blade in either of its limit positions of lengthwise adjustment relative to said one blade.
 2. A vaginal speculum according to claim 1 wherein said cooperating means coMprises bearing formation on said support member and said other blade, one of said formations having a slot therein extending generally in the direction of said blades and the other formation having means engaging said slot, and means for locking said means relative to said slot to retain said other blade in adjusted relative lengthwise position.
 3. A vaginal speculum according to claim 2 wherein said support member bearing formation having a slot and said other blade bearing formation carries a screw extending through said slot, and a nut member engaging said screw for locking said other blade with respect to said support member.
 4. A vaginal speculum according to claim 2 wherein said slot has opposite ends and is provided with recesses at such opposite ends for retaining said slot engaging means at either end of said slot.
 5. A vaginal speculum according to claim 3 wherein said slot has opposite ends and has recesses at such opposite ends for receiving said screw to retain said other blade in either of its end positions of lengthwise adjustment. 